Itinerary
- Day 1
Astana to Aktau
You'll arrive in Astana and spend the day settling in. Later this evening, head to the airport for a domestic flight heading west to Aktau on the Caspian Sea coast, which kicks off your Kazakhstan adventure.
Landmarks/POIs Astana Aktau 
- Day 2
Aktau
Aktau is a seaside city with a particular Soviet feel, organized into numbered micro-districts that give it a distinctive character. Walk around and get a sense of how the city connects to Kazakhstan's oil industry while taking in views of the Caspian coastline.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Aktau and its seaside atmosphere
- View Soviet-era urban planning and numbered micro-districts
- Visit sites related to Kazakhstan's oil economy
Landmarks/POIs Aktau Caspian Sea - Day 3
Aktau to Aralsk
Early morning you'll board an overnight train heading east across the steppe. The roughly 21-hour journey takes you through vast, wide-open landscape toward Aralsk. Along the way, you'll have chances to chat with other passengers and see how the terrain changes as you travel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Overnight train journey from Aktau to Aralsk (2nd class)
Landmarks/POIs Aralsk Aral Sea - Day 4
Aralsk to Baikonur
You arrive in Aralsk early morning and transfer to jeeps to see what remains of the Aral Sea, which has shrunk dramatically over decades. From there, head south by road to Baikonur and settle into your accommodation for the night.
Included Activities
- Jeep expedition to the Aral Sea remnants
Landmarks/POIs Aral Sea Baikonur 
- Day 5
Baikonur
Spend the full day in Baikonur learning about the space launch facility where Sputnik lifted off and Yuri Gagarin began his historic flight. Walk through this important site and explore its role in the space race and Kazakhstan's space exploration history. In the evening, board an overnight train heading to Turkestan.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Baikonur city and surroundings
- Learn about the Baikonur Cosmodrome, world's first and largest space launch facility
- Overnight train journey from Baikonur to Turkestan (2nd class)
Landmarks/POIs Baikonur Cosmodrome Turkestan - Day 6
Turkestan to Almaty
Morning brings you to Turkestan. Check out the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a significant work of Timurid architecture and an important pilgrimage destination. Wander through the city to see its Islamic heritage sites. By evening, fly to Almaty and check into your hotel there.
Included Activities
- Visit Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi
Optional Activities
- Explore Turkestan city and Islamic heritage sites
Landmarks/POIs Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Turkestan Almaty - Day 7
Almaty
In Almaty, you'll see Kazakhstan's largest city with mountains rising around it. Hit the Green Bazaar for local goods and energy, stop by the Russian Orthodox Zenkov Cathedral, and walk through historic Panfilov Park. The city sits right between urban energy and mountain landscapes nearby.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Green Bazaar
- Visit Russian Orthodox Zenkov Cathedral
- Explore Panfilov Park
Landmarks/POIs Green Bazaar Zenkov Cathedral Panfilov Park - Day 8
Almaty to Semey to Kurchatov
Morning flight takes you northeast to Semey. Visit the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Testing Site, a former Soviet secret location where nuclear experiments happened for decades. Learn about that history and Kazakhstan's shift toward nuclear disarmament. Overnight in Kurchatov nearby, a town that was closed to outsiders for many years.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Semipalatinsk Nuclear Testing Site
Landmarks/POIs Semey Semipalatinsk Nuclear Testing Site Kurchatov - Day 9
Kurchatov to Semey
After breakfast, transfer to Semey airport for your return flight to either Almaty or Astana, finishing your time in Kazakhstan.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Semey
